# Allowing a thoroughly defeated opponent to score a consolation point

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allowing-a-thoroughly-defeated-opponent-to-score-a-consolation-point/542914>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [June 12, 2010, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allowing-a-thoroughly-defeated-opponent-to-score-a-consolation-point/542914 "2010-06-12T13:08:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![opossum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2bfe46/32.png) [@opossum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/opossum)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/allowing-a-thoroughly-defeated-opponent-to-score-a-consolation-point/542914/41 "2010-06-16T06:26:18Z")

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> [@installLSC](#):
>
> [This story is about kids soccer teams required to narrow the margin of victory](http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/05/31/ottawa-gloucester-dragons-soccer-point.html)  
> Although it’s certainly not an act of sportsmanship, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1984 actually intentionally let an opponent score to get the ball back–to help their running back set a record! [Read toward the end of this article.](http://www.sptimes.com/2003/01/26/Bucs/So_who_s_laughing_now.shtml)

The Florida Gators did this versus the Miami Hurricanes in 1971, too (which may be where Tampa Bay got the idea – the Gator got the NCAA passing record). The Gators, who were up 45-8, actually dropped to the ground to let Miami score.

The Gator Flop: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9\_Uzu-wPFmc](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_Uzu-wPFmc)

Nothing to do with sportsmanship.

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